Two section head mounted display

ABSTRACT

A system is presented in which a head mounted display is realized in two sections such that a section that comes in contact with the human face may be cleaned and sanitized independently of a section with sensitive electronic and optical components.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to head mounted displays for augmented and virtual reality applications.

SUMMARY

A head mounted display system is presented having two sections to facilitate sanitation and user size matching.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.—A head mounted display system.

FIG. 2.—The system of FIG. 1 shown separated into two sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Head mounted displays for the applications of augmented reality and virtual reality have been described in prior art such as by Miller in U.S. Pat. No. 8,467,133. One common problem with many of the described head mounted systems is that cleaning and sanitation can be difficult because of the sensitive electronics and optics contained in these systems. This problem is particularly troublesome in situations where a public performance, such as in a theater, requires clean surfaces to be in contact with the faces of attendees from the public. The current invention solves this problem by dividing the system into two sections where the section that contacts the face is easily cleaned and sanitized when disconnected from the section holding the sensitive electronics and optics.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a projected augmented reality head mounted display system comprising sections 101 and 102. In this embodiment section 101 comprises a frame holding viewing lenses that fits the face of the user, and section 102 comprises compartments that hold projection devices and head tracking cameras that are used to project images out to a retroreflective screen (not shown) which are then reflected back through the viewing lenses. Although projected augmented reality is shown in this embodiment it should be understood that the invention also applies to closed-in augmented and virtual reality systems, so long as they can be divided into two sections where only one section comes in contact with the human face.

FIG. 2 shows the system of FIG. 1 wherein sections 101 and 102 have been disconnected such that section 101 may be sent to cleaning and sanitation means without damage to section 102. A further advantage to the invention is that the frames in section 101 may be chosen from a plurality of sizes and shapes to fit the faces of different users. This reduces the complexity of requiring mechanical means be built into a single common frame to adjust to different size faces. Nothing here limits the washable section 101 from comprising further detachable or substitutable pieces, such as custom nose pieces.

CONCLUSION

An illustrative embodiment has been described by way of example herein. Those skilled in the art will understand, however, that change and modifications may be made to this embodiment without departing from the true scope and spirit of the elements, products, and methods to which the embodiment is directed, which is defined by my claims. 

I claim:
 1. A head mounted display system separable into two sections; a first section comprising glasses frames, goggles or other eyewear; a second section comprising electronic and optical components for the generation of images; wherein said first section may be separated from said second section and cleaned and sanitized independently with respect to said second section.
 2. The system of claim 1 in which the electronic and optical components of said second section project images to be returned to said first section by means of a reflective surface.
 3. The system of claim 1 in which optical components send images generated in said second section directly to the viewing lenses in said first section.
 4. The system of claim 1 having a choice of a plurality of sizes and shapes for said first section so as to facilitate fitting to different size and shape human faces.
 5. A method of cleaning and sanitizing a head mounted display system comprising the steps: a. providing a glasses or goggle or other eyewear first means; b. providing a second means of image generation having connecting means to said first means; c. disconnecting said first means from said second means; d. washing or sanitizing said first means; e. reconnecting said first and second means.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein said image generation means projects images to be returned to said first means by means of a reflective surface.
 7. The method of claim 5 wherein said image generation means transmits images to said first means by means of direct optical relays. 